Industry, Business & Investment

Agriculture

Ensure the South West holds it reputation for quality products, produced in a reputable environment

Proposition

Food reputation

Ensure the region is well positioned to meet growing domestic and overseas demand for high quality food products Regional tourists experience quality foods in South West restaurants and at special food events such as Truffle Kerfuffle to create demand in premium markets

Actions 1 - 5 years
  • Host the WA Small Wineries Show at a major venue
  • Conduct inbound food and wine buyer events to support growth
  • Protect the best agricultural land for food production
  • Develop traditional/native foods and spices
5 - 20 years
  • Develop a fit-for-purpose Livestock Precinct to replace the ageingBoyanup Saleyards, a new facility to include support for related agriculturalindustries
Outcomes 2050
  • South West product value has increased as it takes advantage of high-value niche markets domestically and overseas
  • Regional consumers value regional production and all restaurants and cafes proudly prepare local product
Proposition

Growth

Support regional growth through value adding, soil improvement, reducing regulatory barriers, introducing common user infrastructure and making more efficient use of water resources in a drying climate

Actions 1 - 5 years
  • Support technological solutions to blockchain, enhancing regional brand reputation
  • Investigate potential for food manufacturing as a part of the advanced manufacturing drive
  • Introduce regenerative agriculture in marginal farming areas
5 - 20 years
  • Encourage R&D and investment in water infrastructure and improve irrigation efficiency through consolidated schemes.
  • Implement closed loop horticulture systems, recycling nutrients and organic matter material back to the soil
  • Create a food processing and research incubator in Manjimup
  • Find ways to reduce waste and utilise food that does not meet consumer expectations eg blemished fruit
Outcomes 2050
  • Nuisance weeds have been eradicated
  • Soils have improved

Basic raw materials

Ensure adequate supplies of basic raw materials to ensure affordable development of land for commerce and community

Proposition

Basic raw materials

Explore options to safeguard supplies of sand, gravel and limestone for regional project development

Actions 1 - 5 years

Develop extraction sites and investigate alternative basic raw materials including re-use of mining

5 - 20 years

Develop ready supplies of materials resulting from minerals processing activities, adding value to a ‘waste’ product and fulfilling a regional need

Outcomes 2050

The need for virgin sand, gravel and limestone is reduced as cost-effective alternative and inert sources of materials have been found

Creative industries

Ensure the creative sector has the best opportunity to expand and thrive

Proposition

Grow the creative cluster

Support the sector’s reputation and opportunity in a fully inclusive environment that bridges sub-sectors of the industry and crosses cultures

Actions 1 - 5 years
  • Promote awareness of the value of the creative sector and support through local procurement and events including CinéfestOZ and the Emergence Festival
  • Support the Bunbury-based WA Creative Technology Hub partnership between the WA Government and ECU
  • Link the South West Creative Corner with the neighbouring Great Southern region
5 - 20 years
  • Skills development to underpin the film industry
Outcomes 2050
  • The South West has significantly grown its film, digital media, music and related creative capacity and is recognised as a major international contributor earning export income leading to new opportunities for education and training
Proposition

Boost Aboriginal economic development

Encourage opportunities to support the Aboriginal community through the acknowledgement of arts and culture

Actions 1 - 5 years
  • Grow the recognition of Aboriginal art in the region and move towards commercialisation opportunities
5 - 20 years
  • Ongoing long term efforts to embrace a uniquely South West form of art
Outcomes 2050
  • Aboriginal art in the region is widely recognised as distinctive and belonging to the South West
Proposition

Build the creative brand

Enhance the entire region’s creative reputation

Actions 1 - 5 years
  • Encourage Local Governments to create streetscapes and develop public art that collectively add to the region’s creative brand.
5 - 20 years
Outcomes 2050
  • The region has a reputation as a destination to enjoy art and culture

Export opportunities

An industry and business sector with the skills, knowledge and capacity to engage with Asia

Proposition

Business support

Skill local business and industry in Asian and Indian business culture, language, finance and export procedures

Actions 1 - 5 years
  • Support trade opportunities through engagement with Government and trade bodies
  • Establish an online South West opportunities prospectus demonstrating regional capability
5 - 20 years
Outcomes 2050
  • The South West has a fully engaged, well developed international market presence with the reputation of being a good place to do business

Forestry and timber processing

Ensure the sustainability of forests through replanting and public understanding of locking up carbon

Proposition

Expand the estate

Grow the plantation estate to underpin investment and give confidence of future supplies

Actions 1 - 5 years
  • Identify suitable landholdings for plantation timber and salinity reduction benefits
  • Construction of a common log landing and manufacturing precinct for timber manufacturing based on shared economies of scale
  • All South West LGAs adopt the Timber First policy
5 - 20 years
  • Mainstream building companies offer timber homes as a standard
  • Attract investment in industrial scale mainstream kit homes
  • Continued plantation expansion guarantees supplies and tackles salinity issues
Outcomes 2050
  • The South West has an international reputation for producing sustainably sourced and quality timber and wood products
  • Bunbury is known for building Western Australia’s tallest timber tower
  • The South West has more plantations than in each preceding decade and will continue to lock up carbon by expanding the estate
Proposition

Drive to zero waste

Employ the latest technologies in harvesting and engineered products to underpin the sustainability of the industry

Actions 1 - 5 years
  • Influence Commonwealth policy on carbon offsets
  • Investigate carbon offset systems to stimulate investment interest and to promote tree planting
5 - 20 years
Outcomes 2050

Land for industry

Ensure adequate land supply to create business opportunities, economic diversity and generates employment across industry sectors

Proposition

Industry land bank

Sufficient land is set aside for a range of industry needs to 2050

Actions 1 - 5 years
  • Complete structure planning for Kemerton, Shotts and Preston industrial land areas being mindful of significant water constraints
  • Ensure major towns have a supply of light industrial lots to support small business
5 - 20 years
  • Provide a rail link to the Kemerton Industrial Park and improve the East-West link Marriott Road
  • Realise the potential of the Waterloo industrial estate
Outcomes 2050
  • The South West has sufficient land for industry set aside to meet future demand and eliminate land use conflicts
Proposition

Shovel readiness

Industrial land is prepared for immediate investment in respect of planning, water and power

Actions 1 - 5 years
  • Approval processes are undertaken by Government so hurdles are removed from industry investors in Kemerton and Shotts
5 - 20 years
Outcomes 2050
Proposition

Light industrial areas

Ensure fit-for-purpose locales are provided, particularly in respect to necessary services in smaller regional towns

Actions 1 - 5 years
  • Provide utilities including three-phase power and water with adequate pressure for fire-fighting in Bridgetown, Donnybrook, Manjimup, Pemberton, Nannup
5 - 20 years
Outcomes 2050

Tourism

Develop tourism infrastructure in core South West experiences of wine and food, art and culture, events, and landscapes

Proposition

Events

Increase the number of high value events to attract wider interstate and international visitation

Actions 1 - 5 years
  • Investigate opportunities to host small aircraft air shows at Busselton Margaret River Airport
5 - 20 years
  • Create a completed mountain bike and trails network catering for all needs from walking, cycling, bridle trails, motorcycle and others
  • Complete development of Collie Motorplex to at least a standard to hold nationally televised competition
Outcomes 2050
  • The South West’s international visitation rate matches intra and interstate rates leading to new investment in accommodation, things to do and jobs growth
Proposition

Creative combination

Street art, sculptures and townscapes demonstrating a sense of place add to the regional brand in business and leisure

Actions 1 - 5 years
  • Each South West townsite begins to develop and reflect their own unique sense of place
5 - 20 years
Outcomes 2050
Proposition

Aboriginal opportunity

Boost Noongar cultural experiences and involvement for contributions in other suitable projects throughout the region

Actions 1 - 5 years
  • Engage traditional owners and ILUA Regional Councils in projects with aview to generating Aboriginal employment opportunities that supports culture
5 - 20 years
Outcomes 2050
  • Traditional owners are celebrated throughout the region and Western Australia for their connection to country, art and culture
Proposition

World leader

Increase economic contribution through higher value visitation from interstate and overseas markets by providing first class attractions, food and accommodation

Actions 1 - 5 years
  • Improve the caves as unique regional attractors
5 - 20 years
Outcomes 2050
Proposition

Accommodation expectation

Provide modern hotels, stays and resorts to meet the needs of visitors

Actions 1 - 5 years

Complete the five-star hotels being constructed/planned on Busselton Foreshore and in Bunbury

5 - 20 years
Outcomes 2050
  • All restaurants support local food produce, beers and wines
  • The South West features a range of appropriate accommodation choices that support infrastructure investment